Elevator foe geain



(No llo-del.) 3 Sheets-Sheetl.. J T.. BUDD.

BLEVATR POR GRAIN, ne. l

.1-I0 .6o1-;4o9.y Y Patented Mar. 29, 1898.'

/WITNESSES jf Unirse ',Srnfrns JTALMAN BUDD, OF BUFFALQNEXV YORK.'

ELEVATOR FOR GRAIN, soo.

, SPCIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,409, dated March29, 1898.

Application filed August 20, 1897. Serial No. 6148,8/76. (No model.)

To 'all whom t mag/concern: f

Be it known that I, J TALMAN BUDD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo,

in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement n in Elevators for Grain, the., of which thefolyimproved mouthpiece or intake-nozzle `for .pneumatic conveyers.

The transferring apparatus in common use consists of an elevator-legwhereby the grain or other material is lifted from the hold of a vesselor from a car to the storage-bin of the elevator and steamv shovels orscoops which traverse the hold and gather the grain from different partsof the same and deliver it to the foot of the elevator-leg. These steam--shovels'are cumbersome and require considerable power and acomparatively large force of men to operate them, andk they do notdeliver the grain uniformly, the delivery varying according to thedistance the gra-in is carried. Grain, dsc., has also been elevated bythe pneumatic system; but the direct lifting of material by that systemrequires considerable power and is correspondingly expenmany cases thesystem is im practicable.

The object ofmy invention is the provision of au elevating apparatuswhich can be eporated at less cost than the pneumatic system and withless power and fewer men than the .ordinary elevator-leg andsteam-shovels and which will effect a'uniforni maximum delivery of thegathered material at the place at Y which it vis elevated, irrespectiveof the disenlarged sectional side elevation ofthe m'outh- A tance thematerial is carried, thus increasing the elevating capacity of theapparatus.

.In the accompanyingdrawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure l is atransverse vcr- -tical section of Aan elevator embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the elevator-leg in line 2'2, Fig. l.Fig. 3 is an piece. yFigV-t is a top plan vicwof the mouthieee. Fimo isa front .view of the same. Fi. p c, o

6 is a longitudinal central section of the mouth- 5 5 piece. Fig. 7 is atransverse vertical section inline 7 7, Figqfi. Fig. 8 is a sectionalside elevation of the mouthpiece viewed from the, side' opposite thatshown in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a transversevertical section of a modifiedcon- 6o struction of the mouthpiece and the intakemotor. Like letters ofreference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is an elevator or warehouse, which may be of any ordinaryconstruction, and B is a vessel lying at the dock of the elevator.

C is an upper receiver or receptacle ofthe elevator, D the customaryscale or weighing hopper, and E the lower receiver, which re- 7oceivesthe grain from the weighing-hopper previous to its elevation tothe storagebins orto delivery-scales. e

F is an elevator-leg whereby the grain is elevated from the car or thehold of the ves- Asel, and G the spout which delivers the grain from thehead of the elevator-leg into the upper receiver C; This elevator-legconsists,

preferably, of a case and a series of buckets carried by an endless beltrunning around 8o the usual Vpulleys at the head aud foot of the leg,the leg being constructed practically like those in common use, exceptthat its case is normally closed at its lower end. 'lhc leg isvertically movable in the lusual manner, so

that it can be lowered into the hold of a vessel and withdrawntherefrom. As the means for guiding the vertically-movablc leg on theelevator structure and the hoisting machineryfor raising and lowering itare 9o common and well known to those skilled in the art, thc same arenot shown in the drawings.

II 4represents a number of flexible pneumatic gathering or deliverytubes which vare connected with the closed foot or lower por,- `tion ofthe ,elevator-leg and whereby the g 'aiu is conveyed from differentportions of the vessel-hold to the elevator-leg, these gatheringandconveying tubes taking the place of roo the usual steam-shovels, whilethe leg elevates the material into the upper receiver or storage-binsinthe usual manner. 'lhc gathering and-delivery of the material throughthe pneumatic tubes to the elevator-leg is preferably effected bysuction` and a blast of compressed air, in conjunction with an intake orfeed device, preferably propelled by-an airblast and arranged at'themouth of each pneumatic tube. In the construction shown in the drawingseach conveying-tube is provided at its front end with a vtransversecylindrical .casing or enlargement I, provided inv its lower front sidewith a comparatively large openingj, forming the month or inlet ofthetube, The casing is' as shown in Figs'. 4, 5, and 6.

closed at its ends by air-tightheads 7c, and is tcrmediate annularchamber K',

divided by intermediate partitions or diaphragms k 702 into threechambers K K K2. The end chambers K K2 are connected by a horizontaltube formedV by Sleeves L L', arranged` axially in the casing I, whilethe inn l formed by the space between said tube'and thesnrronndingcas'ing, is isolated from saideidehambers by the partitions la" 7a2.

' sleeves L L are provided in their rear sides opposite the pneumatictube with openings Z,

through which the air delivered into the end lchambers K Kiescapes into'the pneumatic- Mrepresents@.rotary scoop or feeder arranged inthecentral chamber K oi the cas. ing and consisting of a'series of radialbladesl rigidly connected by arms fm anda hub mflto a horizontal shaftm2, which is jonrnaled at its ends in bearings formed inthe heads of thecasing, as shown in Figsf, 6, and 7;

The arms oflthcsef'blades pass through an j,andxiinmersing the frontofthe casing in the material to be gathered'thc material is scooped intothecasing and projected rearwardly into thc pneumatic tube.

'N -isa fan, propeller, or motor which is arranged in the left-handchambei-K. of the casing ar'idri'gidlyl mouniedvon the shaft m2 andwhich is rotated .by the air-blast, s0 as to turn th-c shaft and thescoopM mounted thereon.

'lhisgpropcllcr mayconsist of `ordinary fanblades',-asshown in Figs. 3and 7.

"U is a main air-supplypipc whereby compressed air is delivered to theapparatus and which is connected with an air compressor or fblowcr ofany suitable or well-known conshown.)

struction or with :r supply 'tanlc. (Not (,lomprcssed airis suppliedtothe propeller or motor chamber. K by a branch pipep, which enters theperiphery of said rhaliiber taugen tially through openings p', so

The connecting? y E v I 601,409

as to deliver a blast ot air against several of the blades of thepropeller for rotating the same, the exhaust-air passing through thesleeves L L "and the openings Zint'o the pneu;

matic tube. The opposite chamber K2 forms an air-supply chamber wherebythe 4requisite amount of air, in addition to the exhaust-air from themotor N,is delivered into the casing .for carrying the material andpreventing choking of the casing and the pneumatic tube with which itisconnected; Air is supplied to thechamber K2 by a branchv pipe p, conl.nected with the'main supply-pipe O.' "lhei branch pipe p is providedwith a valve p3 for controlli-ng thevforce of the air-blast deliveredagainst the propeller, so that the speed of the motor can'be regulated,and the other branch pipe p2 is provided with a similar valve-p4 forregulating the amount of ad- .ditional air commingled with thematerial.. The valve ot' the branch pipe p2 is regulated to maintain thematerial. The main air-supply pipe O is provided proper proportion ofair and'y with a valve q, whereby the supply of com-y I pressed air toboth 'branch pipesp p2 may be, controlled This valve may be of anysuitable construction, but is preferably of the type having avertically-sliding valve-stem.

This stem is operated by a lever q and cord q2, connected with the leverand terminating within convenient reach of the attendants who guide landmanipulate the nozzle or mouthpieceof the pneumatic tube. 'ln order tofacilitate the shifting of the nozzle, the Same is mounted upon trucksor rollers fr, shown in Figs. 1, 3, 45, and 6, audit is provided onopposite sides with handles fr' for manipulating it.

loo

Upon the shaft'oii the scoop M is preferably mounted a fly-Wheel S toinsure a regular and continuous rotary motion of the scoop. In order topermit the speed of the scoop to be controlled, a brake S is providedwhich op crates againstthe face of the fly-wheel, the brake rodextendingthrough an opening formed in the'rear side ot the mouthpiece,as shown in Figs. 4t and S, and being connected with a lever s, pivotcd'to the side of the mouthpiece and operated by a cord s',

extending within reach of the attendant. \Vhen the mouthpiece lisWithdrawn from the material, the motion of thescoop M can be retarded orstopped by 'the brake, as may be necessary to prevent an excessivequantity of air from being drawn into the pneumatic tube and impairingthe suction or vacuum.

'l is a dust cham ber or receptacle arranged IIO above or near the upperreceiver C and designed to receive the dust-laden air from the head ofthe elevator-leg. The dust setti sin this chamber and may be collectedtherein and removed from time to time, or it maybe discharged through atrapped spout (not shown) into the upper receiver, while the air escapesinto the atmosphere through an open-` ing z'-, located at or near thotop of the dust` chamber. The dust, chaff,and other light 1 mattercontained in cargoes of grain are 1neluded in the gross Weight of thecargo; l By 1 employingthe dust-chamber T in connection v mingle witithe grain.

may be connected directly with the leg-head with the upper receiver Cthe impurities may be separated from the grain and dischargedseparately, in which case allowance is made for theweight of theimpurities in delivering the elevated cargo, or if it is desired todeliver the elevated cargo with theA impurities the lat ermay be allowedto again com- The dust-chamber or delivery-,spout'of the elevator-legbya pipe or tube;` but I' prefer to interpose a suction' fan orvacuum-'pump T' in this` connecting! tube, which -fancreates a vacuum inthe ele- Vater-leg, `producinga suction in the pneumatic tubes vwhichconveys the material through the tubes-.to the footof the leg. I

also prefer to employ a vacu-umor separating i chamber T2 in connectionwith the deliveryspout ot the elevating-leg'. For this purpose thisspout is enlarged toform such a'cha1n ber asshowninFig. 15e-nd thesuction pipe or tube t' of the' exhaust-fan T is connectedA .with thetopof said chamber, while the discharge-spout t2 'of the fan leads tothe dust- 'chamber T. Thepipe t; is iiexible to permit 4the elevator-legto move vertically. To ex- -f`clude the air from thevacuum-chamber-Tia feach 4tube being guided and controlled by two attendants standing onopposite sides of the same. In the drawings twoof such tubes arevshow-n,but a greater orless number 'may be e1nployed,if desired. After properlyplac:

ing the leg and the tubes and setting the ex- .haust-fan and theelevator-buckets in mo-l tioncompressed air is delivered to the mouth ornozzle of each tube ,by opening the valve `@of the 'main air-supply pipeO and the valves of the branclijpipes p p2. The air-blast impingingagainst the blades of the propellerN rapidly rotates the same, thusturning ythe shaft mz'and the rotary scoop or feeder M, mounted thereon.The lintake or* feeder scoops thegrain into the easing, asr hereinbeforedescribed, and the air-blast, after acting upon the propeller-blades,

escapes into the sleeves L L and yfrom the latter into and through thepneumatic tube to' the foot of the closed elevator-leg.

VM form pockets or compartments in which Theblades of the scoop l thematerial isconned d'urin g the interval Ihatthe sameis carried from theinletl of the V,meuthpiece to a point.- opposite the air-dischargeopenings Z. of the sleeves L L@ and as s oon as these loaded pocketsarrive opposite said openings the air-current passing through the samecarries the material into and through' the pneumatic tube to the footofthe elevator-leg. The air-current thuspasses from the' middle or axis ofthe mouthpiece toward casing of the mouthpiece the air-currentl exertsits force directly behindl the material, thus utilizing the air-currentin the most el"- fecti'vemannr and insuring the carriage of the materialthrough the pneumatic tube. The force u of 'the compressed air passingthrough the pneumatic tube assists the sucits periphery, and as thematerial passes be-j tween the sleeves L L andA the surrounding` tionpower in conveying the material through 4 the tube. The materialconveyed to the legv is elevated by the buckets in a well-known 'mannerand the dust-laden air drawn upward through the leg passes through thefan-case T/ into the dust-chamber T, while the grain freed from dustflows through the deliveryspout of the' elevator-leg and the valve Uinto the upper receiver C. A

` It will be observed that the casing .of the elevator-leg, which ."spractically air-tight, forms a part of the pneumatic conveyer.

In starting to unload a vessel it is unnecessary to employ thepneumaticgathering-tubes,

as the elevator-leg isfor a time surrounded by the materiahand in ordertopermit the leg to be used' during this period in the ordinary mannerWithout the use of the pneumatic tubes the foot of the leg is providedin its front side with an opening or inlet to' which' Ais applied aslide Ff, as shown in Figs. l and 2, which slide is opened in startingto unload the vessel and closed when-it becomes necessary to use thegathering-tubes.

In my improved apparatus the lifting ot the grain is etectedbytheelevator-leg, which can IOO .be operated with less power than apneumatic.

Vlifting system, and the material at a distance from the leg is-gatheredauddelivered to` the IIO saine by the pneumatic tubes, which simplyvmove or carry the material practically horizontally and are not requiredto lift it to any considerable degree. This method of gathering requiresmuch 'less power than is required by the use of the ordinarysteam-shovels, thus eiiectinga corresponding saving in the` cost ofelevating and gathering the material. 'Bythe use ofA these pneumaticgathering-tubesthe material can also bey gathered and delivered to theelevator-leg with greater uniformity and elevated at themaximum capacityof the leg,-regardless?of the distance the material .is carried, byregulating the sup,-

ply of Aair delivered to the tubes, the quantity' beingincreased'forcarrying the material a greater distance and diminished for carrying ita4 shorter distance- The elevator-'leg can `thus always be worked at itsfullest capacity,4 whereby the power is. utilized in the most economicalranneigand the vessel is unloaded g ina shorter time, while withsteam-shovels I in Fig.v 9.

.- 5o derived from the rapidly-moving air.

' v terial is near the leg.'

NVhile I have herein shown and described `5 rotaryscoopsfor feedingthematerial into,

the mouth-1 of the pneumatic tubes, any other suitable feeding or,injecting device may be employed forthat purpose, and I do not, there- 4fore, Wish to' limit myself to the use of the 1o speci al means shown,`nor do I wish to be limi ited` to theuse of compressed air as themotive force for operating. the fee'd device, as

'f any other suitablemotor, such as an electric motor, maybe used forthis purpose, as shown In this case the necessary supply of air for thepneumatic tubes can be taken directl'y'fr'om the atmosphere.

A As a simplified modilication of the mout-hp iece the end c hamber K K2may beomitted 2o yand the scoops driven.l from the motor by a belt fu,passing around pulleys ne? on the motor-shaft and the scoop-shaft.` In.thisv con- `struction air may-be supplied to the mouthpiece'by a pipefw, entering the-side of the same and having a valve w', as shown inFig. 9.

I f desired, a compressed-air motor may be placed on top of theAmouthpiece of the pneumatic tube and the rotary scoop operated by meansoffa belt in the same mannerias the 43o electric motor shown in Fig. 9.

i In the use of the rotary blades for the de- "livery of material intothe pneumatic tube I Ido not Wish to con-fine myself to the admission ofthe air behind the material, as before 1de- 3S scribed, as the air couldbe admitted on either' side of the mouthpiece in front of the blades andthe-suction would draw the material into the tube but this arrangementwould not be so effective.

' 4c The rapidly-revolvin g buckets of the closed elevator-leg produce acertain amount of suction-power, and this power may be usedv inconnection with that furnished by the compressed air for conveying thematerial through 4 5 the tbes without the use of an additional fan orexhaust device, although I preferito use the additional fan.

-In the use of the pneumatic tube the force y directly conveying thematerial or grain is This force may beobtained by the use of suctionfrom-a fan or vacuum-pump and by ,utilizing l the suction' from therevolving buckets in the leg-casing, and may also be produced by de- Ylivering compressed air from a tank, blower,

or air-pump into the` mouth of the pneumatic tube. i

.- As a further modification of my invention the dust-chamber T may beomitted and the 6o material spouted from the head of the eleva-I tor-legdirectly into the upper receiver C, in

which case this receiver is'closed as tightly as vpossible and isprovided near its top with an opening to the atmosphere for the escapeof the air.

I claim as my invention-,-

1. The combination with abucket elevatoA of aninclosing leg o r casingforming an airpassage7 a gathering-tube which receives the material tobe elevated and opens into the lower portion 'of said leg or casing, andmeans whereby a current of air is caused to flow through saidgathering-tube and from the latter into said leg or casing, sucheurrentcarryiug saidmaterial into said leg or casing,' substantially-as`set forthr,

2. The combination with a bucket elevator,

of an inelosiug leger casing forming an airpassage, a gathering-tubeope-ning into thc klovverportion of said leg or casing, and an ex- '8chaust device connected with said leg or casingand causing an air-currentto flow through said gathering-tube and from the latter into said leg orcasing, substantially` as set forth.

3. The combination with a bucket elevator, of an inclosing leg or casingforming an airpassage, a gathering-tube opening into the lower portionof said leg or casing, and a conduit whereby compressed air is deliveredto the inlet end of said gatheringtube for conveying the" material to beelevated through the same and into the elevator legor casing,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a biiclget elevator', of an inclosing leg orcasing forming an airpassage, a gathering-tube opening into the lowerportion of said leg or casing, a conduit whereby compressedV air isdelivered to the inlet end of said gathering-tube for conveying thematerial to be elevated through the' roo saine and into the elevator legor casin g, and an exhaust device connectedwith said leg or casing anddrawing the air therefrom, substantially as set forth.

5.' The combination With a bucket elevator of an inclosing leg or casingforming an airpassage, a gathering-tube opening into the lower portionof said leg or casing, a movable intake device or feeder arranged at theinlet end of said gathering-tube, means whereby such intake device orfeeder 'is operated, and means whereby a currentof air isv caused toilow through said gathering-tube and from the latter into thelowerportion of said leg or casing, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a bucket elevator, of an inclosin'g leg orcasing forming an airpassage, a gathering-tube which receives thematerial to be elevated and opens into the lowerport'ion of said leg orcasing, a separat- 12o ing-chamber connected with the upper end of saidleg or casing, and having an air-exit and an exit for the separatedsolid material, and an exhaust device connected with said air-exit,'whereby an air-current laden with solid -material is drawn through saidgathering-tube into the lower portion of said leg and from the' upperportion of the latter into said separatingfchambeiywhere the heavy solidmaterial, such as grain, drops out of the air-cur- 13o rent and escapesthrough the exit for heavy material, while the air-current laden `WithIIO light material, such asdust, passes on tothe exhaustf device,substantially as set forth.V

- 7. In an elevator for grain, &c., the combination with an elevator-leghaving a closed.

bottom, of a pneumatic gathering-tube connected with the closed bottomof the 'leg audprovided with a-mouthpiece, a rotaryT scoop or feederarranged in said mouthpiece, means `for operating said scoop,aseparating-chamber connected with the upper portion of the leg,

` and means for exhausting the air from said chamber, substantially asdescribed;

- 8. In an elevator for grain, dac., the combination withan elevator-leghaving a closed bottom, of oneor more pneumatic gathering- 2tubes'connected with the closed bottom of the nation withan elevator-leghavinga closed i bottom, of a gathering-tube connected'with` leg; aseparatingchamber connected with the upper 'port-ioni `of the leg andprovided with an air-outlet and a discharge-spout for the elevatedmaterial, a Valve. applied to said spout andallowing the material toescape Whileintercepting the entrance vot' air, and means for exhaustingthe air from said separating-chamber, substantially as set forth.

9.v In an elevator for grain, &c.,the combithe closed bottom of thelegand having a mouthpiece or inlet-casing, a feed device for deliveringthe material into the mouthpiece, and a' conipressed-air'motor foroperating the feed device, substantially as set forth.

In an elevatoror conveyer for grain, &c.,

thecombination with apneumatic tube, of a mouthpiece or inlet-casingconnected with said tube and having an inlet for thematierial to beconveyed and also -anair-inlet, fa

f rotary scoop or feeder for delivering the material into themouthpiece, and means for operating the scoop, substantially as setforth. g 11. In an elevator or conveyer for grain,-&c.

the combinationwith a pneumatic tube, of a mouthpiece or inlet-casingconnected with said tube and having an inlet for the mateair motor foroperating the scoop, said mouthl 'rial to Vbe .conveyed and also anair-inlet, a

`rotary scoop Orr-feeder for delivering thematerial into the mouthpiece,and a compressedpiece having arranged thereon a compressedair pipeleading to the motorfrom a suitable source, substantially as set forth.

12. In an elevator or conveyor for grain, &c

the combination with a pneumatic tuba-ot a mouthpiece or inlet casingconnected with said tube and having an inlet tor the material -tolbeconveyed, a rotary scoop or feeder for delivering the material into Athemouthpiece, means for operating the.seoop,and,a brakeuor controllingsaidscoop, substantially assetforth. k Inan elevatororconveyertorgran,dre., thecombination with apneumatic conveyingtube, of a casing ormouthpiece connected to v the end of said tube, communicating there-.with' and` provided with an inlet for the material to beconveyed', anair-tube arranged centrally in the casing and provided opposite the endof said tube,'.communcating ,there-l with and divided by partitions'linto a central d chamber and two end chambers, an air-tube connectingsaid end chambers, and provided with a discharge-opening and separatedfrom the surroundingwall of thecasm'g by'an annular space forming thecentral chamber, a shaft passing through said connecting-tube andchambers, a propeller mounted on said shaft in one of said end chambers,and rotary i l blades or .scoops arranged inl said .annular space andAmounted on the shaft, the opposite end chamber being provided with anair-inlet,

substantially as set forth.

SWitness my hand this 11th day of August, 197. y.I TALMAN Bunn.- 4Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER,

- KATHRYN ELMoRE.

